Windsor West NDP MP Brian Masse speaks to a crowd outside of Windsor's Veterans Affairs Canada office, January 31, 2014.Windsor West NDP MP Brian Masse speaks to a crowd outside of Windsor's Veterans Affairs Canada office, January 31, 2014.
Chatham

Reopening Of VA Offices In Doubt

With the federal budget expected to come down soon, Windsor West MP Brian Masse is getting a little nervous about plans to reopen Windsor's Veterans Affairs Office.

It was a promise during the last federal election campaign.

Last December, local veterans advocate Bruce Moncur attended a two-day conference in Ottawa with Veterans Affairs Minister Ken Hehr to talk about plans to improve services for veterans. Plans to reopen nine offices across the country are outlined in a 14-point mandate letter issued to Hehr by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

At the time, Moncur told BlackburnNews.com the Liberal government wouldn't likely act on the file until March at the earliest, but Masse says he should have heard something by now.

"There should have been some type of connection right now with the community that they are going ahead with reopening the offices," says Masse. "Windsor is a turn-key operation. The basic services could start. If they have to do some new hiring they could get that process but they have to communicate with the public."

The office in Windsor closed January 31, 2014.

The federal budget is expected March 22.

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